A/N: thanks for the reviews.
linda101- this part only has two chapters left, and Alex won't see her grandparents in those chapters. However there will be more interaction in the next part. But that won't be ready for a little bit.
guest- Thanks! I am glad you are still enjoying it. There will be a short break in a couple of chapters time, but when it returns Kara will continue her recovery and face up to everything.
As Kara left the staff meeting the next day her phone rang, seeing the caller she answered the call, but didn't manage to say a greeting before the caller was speaking.
"Kara you need to get to the DEO, now." Vasquez said.
Thirty seconds later there was a breeze in the control room before Kara stood before Vasquez and asked. "What's wrong?
"Alex, as in your sister, collapsed." Vasquez said putting down the phone and speaking directly to Kara.
"What? Why?"
"Bronze is looking at her now." Vasquez said. "The good thing is Cork's reactions are fast and he caught her before she hit anything."
"But you don't know why she collapsed?"
"No. But she is awake if you want to see her."
"Thanks." Kara said before entering the infirmary.
"I'm fine." Alex greeted.
"You collapsed." Kara said. "That is not fine."
"Okay, results are in." Bronze said approaching the pair.
"And?" Kara asked.
"Umm." Bronze said, not sure if she should be talking about Alex's medical results in front of Kara.
"It's fine, she'll listen regardless." Alex said.
"Okay, well your ferritin levels are very low, as are Haemoglobin and Hematocrits. And your red blood cells are small. All indicate anaemia, which, combined with your very low folate levels would explain the fatigue and collapse."
"I sense a but." Kara said.
"But," Bronze said. "Alex is already prescribed high level supplements. So for the levels to be this low, either Alex is not taking her supplements or there is an underlying condition. So have you been taking your iron and folic tablets?"
"That would be a kind of." Alex said.
"Alex!" Kara chastised.
"What? I've been busy."
"Alex, these levels are rock bottom, it is no wonder you collapsed. You are a doctor, how did you end up in this state?" Bronze joined in.
"I don't know. Invasions, megalomaniacs, a sister with a death wish? My son being possessed." Alex listed.
"What does she need to do?" Kara asked.
"I already know." Alex cut in.
"Well that's even worse." Kara said. "Should I get Eliza down here?"
"No." Alex said.
"You know I am telling her right?" Kara said.
"Mom has enough to worry about with you."
"I didn't collapse." Kara pointed out.
"No, you technically died, that's way worse." Alex countered as Vasquez walked into the infirmary and was immediately waved to one side by Bronze.
"Well I am fine now." Kara said to her sister.
"No you're not, I mean physically sure, but you are still in denial." Alex countered.
"You are the one who collapsed." Kara countered.
"It's just a little anaemia." Alex shrugged.
"Nothing little about it, well apart from your iron levels." Kara argued. "And what if Cork hadn't caught you?"
"I would have been a little bruised. But still okay."
"You could have been concussed. What happened if you collapsed while driving? Or in front of the kids?" Kara went on.
"You guys remember this is an infirmary? The gym is next floor down." Vasquez said approaching the arguing pair.
"Sorry." Kara said. "But the gentle approach doesn't work with Alex."
"Trust me, I know." Vasquez said before looking at Alex. "I have spoken to Bronze and you are on medical leave."
"What? Why?"
"You sure she didn't hit her head?" Kara asked Vasquez.
"Guys, I'm fine." Alex said.
"No you're not and from the sound of it this is self inflicted. So you are on leave. You are off on vacation soon anyway, you are just going to start two days early. Well one and a half days early." Vasquez said.
"We have a case." Alex reminded her.
"Yes. But you two are way too close to this. You know you shouldn't be working on it." Vasquez said. "So go home. When you iron levels stabilise you can come back."
"You do remember I am the Director?" Alex asked.
"Not while you are medically unfit. Go home, get some rest and sort out your diet."
00
As Alex sat at home on the couch listening to both Eliza and Kara lecture her she prayed for son's return so she would get some respite.
"Are you even listening to us?" Eliza asked.
"What?" Alex asked looking up at the disproving stares of her mother and sister. She was saved from further interrogation by the doorbell ringing.
"I'll get it." Kara said walking to the hallway.
"Hey." Kara smiled seeing Steve on the other side.
"Hi." He greeted.
"Should you be walking?" She asked looking at his ankle.
"It's fine." He said.
"Another doctor in denial." Kara commented.
"Sorry?" He asked confused.
"Nothing. Sorry. What are you doing here?"
"I was looking for Martin."
"Martin?" Kara asked confused.
"Yes. We were meant to be going out tonight, but I can't get hold of him and from your expression, I guess he isn't here."
"No, but he is out with Alex and MJ, they should be back soon. Want to come in and wait?"
"Sure." He said limping into the lounge.
"Hi Steve." Alex greeted, her voice dripping in relief.
"Alex." He said, wondering what he had walked in on for her to seem so happy to see him.
"How's your ankle?"
"Fusing nicely, should lose the crutches next week." He smiled as he sat down. As he did so he looked at Kara and asked. "So how are you doing?"
"I'm fine, unlike Alex." She said looking at her sister.
"Did I walk in on something?"
"No." Alex said as Kara and Eliza replied.
"Yes."
"You probably just want to avoid this conversation." Alex said to Steve.
"Avoidance I can do." He smiled before looking back at Kara and asking. "How is the other Alex doing?"
"Okay, I think."
"Very convincing." Steve commented.
"What happened to you anyway?" The older Alex asked Steve.
"Well we were going to get lunch when we heard gun shots, so we high tailed it to the car. Only I didn't see the curb and broke my ankle. While I was down the getaway van lost control and headed straight to us and Alex stopped it. Before the minor freak out and running away. But according to NCPD they have detained all the robbers."
"Great, now NCPD is outperforming us." Alex grumbled as the front door opened and the teenage trio walked in.
"Hi." Steve greeted.
"Oh." Martin said remembering he was meant to be with his uncle. "Sorry."
"It's fine. We'll go another time." Steve shrugged.
"In which case, do you two want to stay for dinner?" Eliza offered.
"Can we?" Martin asked.
"Sure." Steve said as Kara noticed her daughter slip out of the room with chewie. Following her into the garden she asked.
"You okay?"
"Just needed some air." The teen said. Seeing her mother's frown she added. "I'm just tired."
"Want to go home?"
"No, I'll be okay."
"You sure?"
"I'm sure. Just needed a bit of air." She said before adding. "I started feeling really anxious."
"Like Malaise anxious?"
"No. Just crazy anxious."
"You aren't crazy. Your hormones are still fluctuating."
"I know. It sucks." The teen said as Kara sat next to her and hugged her.
"You'll be back to normal soon." Kara said. "Until then we'll stick it out together." She added before asking. "What were you feeling anxious about?"
"You."
"What about me?"
"You getting hurt."
"I'm okay." Kara promised her. "I know the last few weeks, well months, have been hard. But I promise things will get better. And we will have so much fun in Midvale." Noticing her daughter still frowning she tired a different tact and said. "When I got to Earth the first time I was super anxious the whole time. I was anxious I would wake up back in the Phantom Zone, I was anxious that the Danvers would decide I wasn't worth it and get rid of me, I was anxious I would accidentally use my powers. The list was kinda endless. And most of it was unfounded, and I knew that. But at the time that didn't really help."
"So what did?"
"Many different things. Alex telling me I was a dufus, Eliza hugging me and time."
"Time sucks."
"Yes it does. I'm so not patient. But things did get better. And they will for you too. In the mean time figure out what helps and we'll do it together."
"Hugs help." The teen said leaning against her mother.
"Those I can always do." Kara said as they heard some noises from the kitchen. "Sounds like dinner is ready. Sure you want to stay?"
"I'm okay." The teen said standing.
"Good." Kara smiled, also getting to her feet. "Then let's go inside." She added as the pair walked into house where everyone was already sitting at the table. Seeing her sister's questioning look she smiled and nodded before sitting next to her daughter and asking the teens.
"So you guys have plans tomorrow?"
"Not yet." MJ replied.
"In which case want to do something?" The older Alex asked.
"With you?" He asked confused.
"Yes." The older Alex confirmed.
"Aren't you meant to be working?" MJ asked his mother.
"No. Day off."
"Have you been fired?" The teen asked.
"No."
"Then why aren't you working?"
"I thought we'd could spend time together." Alex said.
"Are you working?" MJ asked his aunt.
"Umm, yeah." Kara said.
"But, you're not?" He asked his mother.
"No."
"Are you sick?" MJ asked.
"I'm owed vacation." Alex stated. "But if you don't want to spend it with me, I can find something else to do." She said before noticing Steve's expression and asking. "What?"
"Nothing. Just interesting and mildly disturbing that MJ has inherited your cynicism and paranoia."